Chess: Harikrishna ousted from FIDE World Cup

Tbilisi (Georgia), Sep 8 (IANS) Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna suffered a defeat at the hands of compatriot S.P. Sethuraman in the tie-breaker games of the second round and exited the FIDE World Cup here on Friday.

The 20th seeded Harikrishna, playing with black pieces in the first rapid game, started off neck and neck against his compatriot and the tie-breaker lived up to the billing.

Sethuraman was wary of his opponent’s attacking prowess in the first game and defended well to keep Harikrishna at bay, and the game ended in a draw after a massive 58 moves.

After that gruelling encounter, Harikrishna wanted to wrap it up in the second rapid game. But, it was here that Harikrishna was put under pressure as he just had one pawn to Sethuraman’s five in the endgame.

Earlier on Thursday, Harikrishna had to settle for a draw against Sethuraman after an enthralling encounter in the second classical control game of the second round and took the lead going into the tie-breaker round.

Harikrishna, playing with black pieces in the reverse fixture, tried to take a complete point from the game and settle the tie but couldn’t do so as he had to be at his defensive best and led the game towards a draw.

Although Sethuraman placed a couple of checks on Harikrishna’s king on the 28th and the 29th move, Harikrishna evaded the situation tactically and both players settled for a draw after 39 moves.